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Growing cucumber at home


How to Grow Cucumbers in Your Home Garden

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This guide explains how to grow cucumbers, including how to grow cucumbers from seed, when to plant and a trick to produce cukes with no bitterness.

Cucumbers can be one of the most rewarding vegetables you grow in your garden. They grow quickly and just a few plants can give you an abundance of cucumbers throughout the season! Here’s how to grow cucumbers, from seed to harvest.

Find more fast-growing vegetables for your garden.

Cucumber Growing Basics

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Cucumber plants crave two things above all else: heat and water. This means that you have to wait for consistently warm days before you can plant them. They also need regular watering, so your planting location should be a spot you can easily reach with a hose or watering can. Finally, keep in mind that cucumbers will taste better and produce more with frequent harvests. Get out your favorite cucumber recipes and have them ready!

There are two types of cucumbers you can grow: vining or bush. Your local garden center will likely carry both; if not, you can buy seeds online for whatever veggie you’re looking for.

If you’re growing vegetables for the first time, learn more about vegetable gardening for beginners with Ashlie Thomas, AKA @TheMochaGardener

Growing Cucumbers from Seed

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Cucumbers can’t be planted outside until well after the last possible frost date, and this can be a frustration for Northern growers. Starting the seeds indoors is a great way to get plants growing earlier and extend your growing season. Emerging seedlings will want a warm place to grow: use a heating pan under the tray or place it in the warmest, sunny location you have indoors. You can also look for seedlings or small cucumber plants at your local garden center.

Some sources say that cucumbers can be fussy about being transplanted. An easy backup plan is to save a few seeds to plant directly in the ground once it’s warm enough. That way, if your seedlings struggle after transplanting, you will have a backup crop underway.

Where to Plant Cucumbers

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Assess your garden space to choose the type of cucumbers to grow. Vining cucumbers grown on the ground will need as much as four feet of space between plants, but trellised cucumbers need only a foot of spacing. (And strong support, of course!) Bush varieties produce fewer cucumbers than vining but give you lots of flexibility in smaller gardens or in containers that you can place where you want.

Like tomatoes and peppers, cucumbers need all the sun they can get. Find a growing location that gets six to eight hours per day. Cucumbers also need soil that drains well and is full of nutrient-rich, organic matter. If your soil is lacking, you can always amend it by working in several inches of aged compost or manure. This rich soil will also hold moisture more effectively, and that will help your cukes.

The Best Time to Plant

Remember: Cucumbers crave heat, and they also hate the cold. Cucumber plants are very vulnerable to cold snaps—because of this, it’s recommended to wait until two weeks after the last threat of frost before planting seeds or seedlings. The air temperature should be consistently above 70° F.

Plant seeds about one inch deep in well-drained, rich soil. Gardeners who have soil prone to waterlogging and poor drainage grow cucumbers on small mounds that are four to six inches high. The elevation helps moisture drain away and prevent root rot.

For spacing, allow three to four feet between vining cucumbers growing on the ground, one foot between cucumbers growing on vertical supports, and two to three feet between bush types of cucumbers.

Tools You’ll Need for Growing Cucumbers

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Soaker Hose

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Garden Shears

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Garden Trowel

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Caring for Your Cukes

Once established, cucumbers grow fast and are relatively easy garden vegetable to care for. That doesn’t mean you can just ignore them, though! Here’s what to do to care for your cukes:

Harvesting Your Cucumbers

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Pick your cucumbers often, as soon as they reach a usable size and before seeds are fully formed inside. To harvest cucumbers, get out your garden shears and snip the stem close to the top of the vegetable. Resist the urge to just rip the cucumbers off the vine, because this could damage the plant.

Tips for Growing the Best and Tastiest Cucumbers

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Attract pollinators

Cucumber plants produce male and female flowers, and you need pollinators to get pollen from one to the other to grow cucumbers. Encourage bees and other beneficial insects to visit your garden: plant some of their favorite flowers nearby and limit your use of pesticides that hurt pollinators. The Old Farmer’s Almanac suggests spraying cucumber vines with a sugar-water solution to help attract bees!

Plant sunflowers for sweeter cukes

Seasoned gardeners know the benefits of planting companion vegetables: plants that actually help each other grow better.

Gardeners have discovered that cucumbers taste sweeter when they’re planted next to sunflowers. Why is this? Cucumbers have natural compounds, cucurbitacins, that can create a bitter flavor, and these compounds can increase if plants are stressed from drought or temperature. Sunflowers seem to help by releasing an enzyme called elastase that neutralizes cucurbitacins. Sunflowers can also serve as climbing support for smaller varieties of cucumbers, whose vines will twine up the stalks.

Harvest often

Because cucumber plants grow fast and can be prolific, you may find yourself picking cucumbers every few days! But since cucumbers picked earlier are sweeter, it’s definitely worth it. And the more you pick, the more cucumbers your plants will give you.

Recipes to Make with Fresh Cucumbers

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Taste of Home

Here's a fantastic way to use cucumbers. You'll love the creamy and crunchy texture and super fresh flavors. —Charlene Skjerven, Hoolpe, North Dakota Get Recipe

This is one of my favorite appetizers. We have lots of pig roasts here in Kentucky, and these small sandwiches are perfect to serve while the pig is roasting. —Rebecca Rose, Mount Washington, Kentucky

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Cucumbers are my very favorite garden vegetable, so I use this recipe often. I got it from a friend years ago. I've heard this refreshing dish keeps very well in the refrigerator, but it goes so fast around our house, I've never found out for myself. —Karen Ann Bland, Gove, Kansas

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I wanted a good recipe for pitas. Seeing the large stack of garden-fresh cucumbers on my counter, I decided to improvise and create my own filling. It was a huge hit. —Sheena Wellard, Nampa, Idaho

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My grandmother, Mama, made this potato salad for every family gathering at her home. The relatives would arrive with their specialties in hand. She never wrote the recipe down, so I had to re-create it from memory. Years later, it's just about right. —Charlene Chambers, Ormond Beach, Florida

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This lovely appetizer is almost too pretty to eat! Sweet watermelon cubes hold a refreshing topping that showcases cucumber, red onion and fresh herbs. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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One summer I worked at a health food store that sold sandwiches. We were close to a college campus, so I made lots of these fresh-filled pitas for the students. Crunchy with crisp vegetables and nutty sunflower kernels, they're a fast-to-fix lunch when you're on the go. -Linda Reeves, Cloverdale, Indiana

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I put this dish together after looking for something quick and easy without too much indoor cooking. My husband prefers this moist grilled chicken a tad spicy. —Linda Tringali, Monroe Township, New Jersey

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I love the marinated sides and salads that come with meals at Japanese restaurants and wanted to try them at home. After some research, I came up with this cool, crisp salad. —Kimberly Ludvick, Newburgh, New York

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Using couscous instead of bulgur for tabbouleh really speeds up the process of making this colorful salad. Other quick-cooking grains, such as barley or quinoa, also work well. —Elodie Rosinovsky, Brighton, Massachusetts

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I grew up by the ocean and then moved to a landlocked state. I wanted to show people in my area how to easily cook seafood, and this is the recipe I came up with. I think it’s safe to say it has become a neighborhood favorite. —Amy Harris, Springville, Utah

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This recipe is a lighter way to enjoy an American summer staple. You can try a version of the dressing with 1 tablespoon of yellow mustard and 1 tablespoon of ketchup. —Laurie Rogerson, Ellington, Connecticut

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The heart of a Greek salad recipe is in the olives, feta, cucumbers and tomatoes. Dress it with olive oil and vinegar, then add more olives and cheese. —Arge Salvatori, Little Ferry, New Jersey

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Crisp, garden-fresh cukes are always in season when we hold our family reunion, and they really shine in this simple salad. The recipe can easily be expanded to make large quantities, too. —Betsy Carlson, Rockford, Illinois

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Greek seasoning, feta cheese and dill-cucumber sauce give this gyro an authentic taste. It was my family's introduction to how really good pita bread can be. Instead of feta cheese, we'll sprinkle on cheddar or Monterey Jack if we have it. —Donna Garvin, Glens Falls, New York

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This chilled, refreshing salad is wonderful on hot days. It has a nice crunch and a delicious balance of sweet and spicy flavors. —Kristina Segarra, Yonkers, New York

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We have a tradition at our house to serve this creamy cucumber salad with the other Hungarian specialties my mom learned to make from the women at church. It’s especially good during the summer when the cucumbers are freshly picked from the garden. —Pamela Eaton, Monclova, Ohio

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Besides being tasty, these little tomato poppers are extra awesome because you can make them ahead of time. At parties, I often triple the recipe because they disappear fast. —Christi Martin, Elko, Nevada

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Add a fresh-tasting touch to your menu with this favorite salad. The crunchy cucumbers are tossed with onion, green pepper and a sweet-tart dressing seasoned with celery seed.—Mary Lou Boyce,Wilmington, Delaware

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Capturing the fantastic flavors of summer, this refreshing, beautiful watermelon-cucumber salad will be the talk of any picnic or potluck. —Roblynn Hunnisett, Guelph, Ontario

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Lime with ginger is a favorite flavor combo for me, especially with grilled salmon. So good. Even with the cucumber sauce, this recipe is easy, too. —Noelle Myers, Grand Forks, North Dakota

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This creamy cucumber salad, a Norwegian favorite, was a staple at all of our family holidays. —Patty LaNoue Stearns, Traverse City, Michigan

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I always get requests for the recipe for these canapes whenever I serve them. They're delicate finger sandwiches with a creamy herb spread and festive red and green garnishes. —Nadine Whittaker, South Plymouth, Massachusetts

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Rice vinegar, sesame oil and cayenne create a sweet-hot Asian flavor that will light up your taste buds! —Alivia Dockery, Jensen Beach, Florida

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For as long as I can remember, Mom made a salad of tomatoes and cucumbers. Now I make it whenever beautiful tomatoes are in reach. —Shannon Arthur, Upper Arlington, Ohio

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I always make these appetizers for our get-togethers. They're easy to prepare and a snappy addition to any party. —Kelly Alaniz, Eureka, California

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This cucumber and onion salad is one of the first recipes I came up with myself. It's a great salad for picnics or potlucks. I always come home with an empty bowl! —Brynn Steckman, Westerville, Ohio

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The classic coleslaw with cabbage gets a fresh approach when you add broccoli, cucumbers, snap peas and crunchy walnuts. —Nicholas King, Duluth, Minnesota

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Kids have fun eating these bite-sized veggie snacks. Change up the seasonings in the dip to fit your family's tastes. —Judie Thurstenson, Colcord, Oklahoma

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Cucumber salad recipes are my absolute favorite! This fast, fresh salad is a winner at every get together. It's an easygoing, healthy side dish for kabobs, chicken or anything hot off the grill. —Blair Lonergan, Rochelle, Virginia

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To keep our kitchen cool, we grill chicken outdoors and serve it with a minty peach salsa that can easily be made ahead. —Janie Colle, Hutchinson, Kansas

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Strawberries and cucumbers together—I just love this combination! We used to eat a lot of cucumbers growing up in upstate New York. We'd get them, along with strawberries and melons, from fruit and veggie stands to make this sweet and tangy salad. —Melissa Mccabe, Long Beach, California

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I jazzed up the quintessential teatime cucumber sandwich to suit my family's tastes. This was my absolute go-to sandwich last summer when I was pregnant. It hit all the right spots! —Namrata Telugu, Terre Haute, Indiana

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This recipe is always requested by my children for their birthday meal or any other get-together. The flavor combination is so yummy.—Anna Sutherland, Camp, Arkansas

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I love to cut up whatever fresh vegetables I have on hand and toss them with this delicious dressing and fresh dill. This salad shows up on our table regularly during the summer. —Bethany Martin, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania

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My cool honeydew and cucumber smoothie has only five ingredients. I sometimes add a small avocado to make it extra creamy.—Crystal Schlueter, Babbitt, Minnesota

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How to grow cucumbers – in pots and in the ground

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Learn how to grow cucumbers for a bumper harvest of the veg plot’s coolest resident. Whether added to a salad or sandwich, pickled with flavorsome spices, or popped into a summer cocktail, the humble cucumber is a versatile, and most refreshing, crop.

The plant makes an attractive feature in the garden, with its quirky fruit and pretty yellow flowers. In addition, cucumber’s climbing nature makes it highly space-efficient, so it’s worth making room for a couple of plants when planning your kitchen garden ideas, even in containers on the patio.

‘They are such a good-looking crop, adding height and presence to the vegetable garden,’ says Aaron Bertelsen, in Grow Fruit and Vegetables in Pots . ‘Given a warm spot and sturdy support from pea sticks or trellis, cucumbers will grow very happily in a pot.'

(Image credit: Getty Images)

How to grow cucumbers from seed

Cucumbers are so easy to grow from seed that unless you missed the growing window, you should sow your own, rather than buy plants from the garden center.

‘Sow cucumbers in pots or small trays on the windowsill or greenhouse in spring, for planting out once all danger of frost has passed,’ advises gardening expert Matt James. Alternatively, you can direct sow outdoor varieties in early summer.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Which type of cucumber?

Recommended cucumber varieties to try are Crystal Lemon, Marketmore, Bush Champion, Mini Munch and Spacemaster. 

If you want to grow cucumbers just for pickling, then choose a variety with small fruits, such as Boston.

Bear in mind that some varieties are better suited to growing in the greenhouse, so if you are researching how to grow cucumbers outside, then check the seed packet description to see if it is suitable.  

Outdoor cucumbers usually have ridged skin and need to be pollinated, whereas greenhouse cucumbers tend to be smoother and shouldn’t be pollinated as it can produce bitter fruit. This means that unless you buy a variety bred to produce only female flowers, you will need to remove the male flowers – which have no fruits behind them – as they grow.

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How to grow cucumbers vertically

Although cucumbers can be left to trail on the ground, it is much more space efficient to grow them vertically, and better protects the fruit.

There are lots of great vegetable garden trellis ideas to explore. ‘Grow cucumbers up tripods or climbing frames,’ says gardening expert Leigh Clapp. You can also add netting to vertical frames, which offers good support for the fruit.

‘You could even grow one up a fruit tree. Ardent cucumber fans can put two or three next to each other to create a screen – handy if you do not like your neighbors,’ says Bertelsen.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Do cucumbers need to climb?

Cucumbers do not need to climb – they can just sprawl across the ground. However, growing them as climbers is the most space-efficient method and makes a more striking feature in the garden. 

Keeping the plants off the ground can also help reduce the number of pests that visit them.

Cucumber plants produce side shoots and tendrils, so can easily be trained to grow upwards. They also make striking overhead plants, and can be trained over an archway, which looks stunning with the fruits dangling down.

How to grow cucumbers in pots

Growing cucumbers in pots is a fantastic vegetable garden container idea. The key is to choose a large enough container – at least 5 gallons – and to use good multipurpose or vegetable potting mix. You can plant two per container.

In hot weather, containers can grow out more quickly than if the cucumbers were planted in the ground, so keep on top of watering. Don't let the soil dry out, but equally don't flood it.

You can let the plants sprawl over the side of the container and across the ground, or place the pots next to a support. You could also make a cane support inside the container.

To keep the plants to a manageable size and encourage growth, pinch out the main growing tip when the plant has seven leaves.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

How to harvest cucumbers

Cucumbers should be harvested when they are around 4-8 inches long, depending on the variety – check the packet instructions. The fruits should be evenly green – if they have gone yellowy or soft, then they are overripe.

‘When harvesting, snip them off with scissors or secateurs (pruning shears). If you try just to pull the cucumbers off, you could pull the whole plant down with them,’ says Bertelsen.

Some varieties of cucumber can be cut in half on the plant, which is ideal when you only need a small amount. The remaining fruit will grow a callous and stay fresh on the plant.

Cucumber growing tips

A great growing tip is to experiment with cucumber companion planting to help their growth and to ward off pests.

‘Plant with nasturtiums to attract blackfly away from crops, and include companion plants that attract beneficial insects, such as marigolds and daisies,’ says Clapp.

Herbs such as oregano and chives can also deter pests, while beans and peas will add nitrogen to the soil, which cucumbers can benefit from.

In harvest season, make sure you know how to pick cucumbers correctly, to prevent damaging your cucumber plants. 

(Image credit: Leigh Clapp)

Cucumber problems

Slugs and snails can be a problem for cucumbers when the plants are small, so cover them with netting or use other preventative measures.

The plants can be susceptible to mildew, which can be reduced by moving them to cooler conditions or spraying on comfrey or seaweed solutions.

Look out for mosaic virus, which is spread by aphids and will stunt the plant’s growth. The only cure is to destroy affected plants.

Whitefly can also be an issue in the greenhouse – use biological control or traps.

What is the best way to grow cucumbers?

The best way to grow cucumbers is in a heated greenhouse, as this will create the right conditions for a much more reliable crop. However, you can have a successful harvest by growing outdoors – just make sure you choose the right variety.

How do cucumbers grow for beginners?

Cucumbers are not the easiest crop to grow for beginners – indeed, many experienced growers struggle with them. However, as they taste so much better than shop-bought, it’s definitely worth learning how to grow cucumbers.

As editor of Period Living, Britain's best-selling period homes magazine, Melanie loves the charm of older properties. I live in a rural village just outside the Cotswolds in England, so am lucky to be surrounded by beautiful homes and countryside, where I enjoy exploring. Having worked in the industry for almost two decades, Melanie is interested in all aspects of homes and gardens. Her previous roles include working on Real Homes and Homebuilding & Renovating, and she has also contributed to Gardening Etc. She has an English degree and has also studied interior design. Melanie frequently writes for Homes & Gardens about property restoration and gardening.

How to grow cucumbers at home, planting and care

Conditions for growing cucumbers at home

For cucumbers, the main requirements for indoor cultivation are sufficient heat, light and moisture, both in soil and in the surrounding air. This is very important to learn so that efforts are not wasted in vain.

To achieve the fulfillment of all the necessary conditions, it is necessary to equip a balcony, loggia or window sill with intelligence and love.

Cucumber varieties for home cultivation

The next condition for successful work in obtaining delicious crisp greens is the right choice of variety. The main thing here is not to make a mistake, otherwise you can be left without a harvest or try just a couple of fruits. When buying seeds, carefully read the description on the bag.

Parthenocarpic cucumbers for home cultivation

Parthenocarpic hybrids have proven themselves well, which can be sown already in January: nine0012

  • Regatta, Photon - early maturing;
  • Moscow greenhouse,
  • Tandem,
  • Voyage,
  • Window-balcony F1;

    • The old-time varieties that are recommended to be sown in February-March have not lost their relevance.

    Shade-tolerant indoor cucumbers

    Shade-tolerant varieties and hybrids F1:

    Claudius F1

    Breeders gave the Claudius hybrid a name with a rich history dating back to ancient Rome, where representatives of imperial families were called this way (and the name Claudius was borne by two Roman emperors) and wealthy families. And, apparently, for good reason!

    Claudia F1 significantly outperforms its counterparts in many ways, sitting majestically on the top lines of our "cucumber" rating. nine0007

    Why is cucumber so good?

    Firstly, this is an early hybrid that will start to please you with a harvest in a month and a half after sowing (of course, it all depends on the conditions).

    Secondly, the hybrid is of the parthenocarpic type, so it does without bees, pollinating itself.

    Thirdly, Claudia F1, like a mother of many children, gives and gives offspring - numerous gherkins, which are distinguished by unspeakably friendly maturation. An incredibly effective crop for this type of cucumber is the result of the fact that the plant forms exclusively female ovaries. With proper care and high agricultural technology, a fruit will be born in almost every flower, which will subsequently develop into a fragrant, tender, crispy cucumber without bitterness. nine0007

    Fourthly, the hybrid with "proudly raised head" endures the ailments that are characteristic of cucumbers, not allowing them to take over.

    Claudia F1 is also amazingly beautiful: greens, reaching a length of 10–12 cm and having a cylindrical shape, are completely covered with small pimples, tubercles, which make them even more appetizing and attractive. And what delicious cucumbers, we will not even describe! Because it is impossible to convey in words that you just need to try - and not even like that, but eat whole summer with all your heart. And only after the ardor subsides, you can start salting, where Claudia F1 also demonstrates the highest performance. nine0007

    You will love Claudia F1, because there really is something for it!

    Photo: shade-tolerant parthenocarpic hybrid of Claudia cucumber F1

    Svetive cucumbers for home cultivation

    Among photophilous varieties can be called:

    Requirements for varieties of cucumbers for home cultivation:

    If you only have seeds for open ground, then remember that at home you can get a little bit of a harvest only with very late sowing - April-May and artificial pollination. nine0007

    Window-balcony cucumber variety F1 Photo

    Planting cucumbers at home

    To successfully plant cucumbers at home, you need to select seeds, set suitable dates, prepare nutritious soil and choose convenient containers. Cucumbers in cartered conditions can be grown in the usual way through seedlings, or in a seedless way. In any case, you need to grow seedlings without picking - young cucumber plants are very tender and cannot stand transplanting. nine0007

    Dates for planting cucumbers

    Optimum planting dates should be set

    1. If all the necessary conditions are provided in the apartment, then you can start sowing at any time.
    2. In the absence of additional lighting, it is better to start sowing at the end of February, when there is sufficient daylight.
    3. If you sow at the end of January, then by March 8 you can surprise guests with fresh fruits from your home garden. nine0012

    Soil for planting cucumbers

    Getting homemade cucumbers largely depends on what kind of soil is prepared for them.

    1. The easiest solution is to buy ready-made soil for cucumber and other cucurbits in the store,
    2. Use pre-prepared garden soil, evenly mixed with rotted manure and humus,
    3. Mix peat and sand in a ratio of 1:1.

    Then it remains only to add 2 matchboxes of complex mineral fertilizer per 1 bucket of soil. nine0007

    Please note that the earth must be disinfected before use by any means suitable for this procedure. Very often, various insects, harmful and not so, are found in the harvested land, which thaw along with the soil in warmth. Then you can not wait for green sprouts.

    To make young cucumber seedlings feel better, apply a little top dressing when preparing the soil: 1 tbsp. superphosphate and ground chalk, and a glass of ash.

    Cucumber pots

    Be careful when choosing containers to house your cucumber plants. Not the last role in the choice of pots and tubs is played by design and fitting them into your interior.

    Seed preparation before planting cucumber

    If there is confidence in the high quality of the seeds, there is no need to carry out any additional treatments. You can soak the seeds in a saturated solution of potassium permanganate or Epin. The necessary measures for this are no different from similar preliminary work when growing cucumbers in open ground.

    You can grow good strong cucumbers by sowing the seeds immediately in a ready-made container with soil, bypassing the seedling period. To be sure of the result, you can pre-germinate the seeds. nine0007

    Cultivation of cucumber at home without seedlings

    1. Seeds (preferably 2-3 pcs.) are sown on the ground previously spilled with warm, preferably settled, water. The soil level should be 5 cm below the top edge of the pot. Seeds are sprinkled on top with dry earth by 1.5-2 cm and lightly slapped by hand.
    2. To create the most favorable conditions, it is advisable to cover the top of the container with glass or film, because. for successful seed germination, a temperature of at least 22-26 ° C is recommended. nine0012
    3. It is important that the topsoil does not dry out.
    4. As soon as you see green leaves on the surface of the soil, the pots should be opened and placed in the most well-lit place.
    5. If several seeds germinate at once in one small container, choose the strongest sprout, carefully cut or break off the rest.

    For the normal development of plants and the formation of a good harvest, it is necessary to provide them with a sufficient amount of soil, at least a bucket. If the plants start to overgrow quickly, move them to a darker area for a while. nine0007

    Growing cucumber at home through seedlings

    If you decide to grow cucumbers through seedlings, then planting in large pots should be carried out in the phase of 2-3 true leaves (about 20-25 days after germination).

    1. Water seedlings well with warm water. At the same time, try to act as carefully as possible, do not destroy the clod of earth at the roots.
    2. Make the powder up to the cotyledon leaves, i.e. slightly higher than in seedling pots.
    3. There should be room up to the top edge of the pot for gradual addition of soil as the plant grows. This will contribute to the formation of additional roots.

    Cucumber care at home

    The principles of care are the same as in the greenhouse and in the open field. Cucumbers love moisture, need garter and shaping. You can not neglect top dressing at home and be sure to alternate between different types and types of fertilizers. Special care will be required for plants during the fruiting period. Care and attention will help cucumbers to give a big and tasty harvest. nine0007

    Feeding cucumbers

    After transplanting and acclimatization, after 5-6 days, cucumbers should be fed.

    Plant development will tell you when to feed it. Alternate fertilizing with mineral and organic fertilizers twice a month. So the "diet" will ensure a regular vitamin harvest of cucumbers. Spraying the leaves gives good results: 15 g of urea / 10 l of water. nine0007

    Cucumber highlight

    Pay special attention to additional lighting.

    1. In order for a bush to grow well and bear fruit, it needs light for 12-14 hours a day.
    2. Lights should be switched on from 6 am until after 8 pm, when daylight is already fading.
    3. On cloudy days, the extra light must be on all day.
    4. If it is not possible to provide adequate lighting for your home garden, grow mostly shade-tolerant varieties. nine0012
    5. In summer, when the day is much longer than in winter, light-loving varieties can also be used.

    Now there are many fixtures and lamps for setting the necessary lighting. Usually fluorescent lamps are used, as they are more affordable.

    Alternative methods of lighting successfully used by the population in their home "beds":

    Formation of cucumbers

    A very important success factor in a window garden with cucumbers is the formation of plants. It is similar to this process in greenhouse and soil plants. The main thing is to indicate the direction that is needed. The cucumber will do the rest by itself, stretching up to the required height. There are several different ways to shape a cucumber.

    1. Start the formation as soon as you count 5 good full leaves on the stem. nine0012
    2. First, pinch off all whiskers, flowers and shoots at the level of the 2nd or 3rd leaf on the plant. This will allow the stem to grow stronger without wasting its strength.
    3. The liana prepared in this way must be tied up to a rope stretched upwards or wrapped around a stick stuck in advance into the pot.
    4. Next, let the vine branch, pinching each branch as it grows upward after the 5th node.
    5. Then pinch off the very top at the level you set or at the height of the window block. nine0012

    Modern breeding hybrids do not always need to form vines. They grow upward with little or no side shoots. It will be enough to pinch such plants at a level limited only by the possibilities and height of your window.

    Fruit Care

    Don't forget cucumbers love moisture. Spray your "pets" regularly. This procedure will stimulate additional fruit formation on your plants.

    To create the required humidity regime, you can use the following technique:

    Plant pots should be watered daily with warm, settled water. Do not allow the soil to dry out and water to stagnate in containers. nine0007

    Cucumber picking

    Young fruits should be picked regularly, without waiting for them to overgrow. The most delicious young sweet cucumbers 4-5 days old.

    tips on how to grow at home

    Indoor plants on the windowsill look great, give comfort and coziness to housing, give a particle of warmth in the cold season, but eventually they get bored. There is an idea - to remove house flowers and grow cucumbers on the windowsill in winter. nine0007

    Think you can't do it? Growing cucumbers at home is possible even for those who have never had a dacha and still saw cucumbers in the most “wild” conditions only in the market and in stores. The idea is good because it can become a real hobby for all family members.

    It is so interesting to observe the growth of plants, to notice new changes in the growing seedlings every day and how great it is to eat a fresh cucumber grown on your own in winter for the New Year's holiday. nine0007

    Contents

    1. In which apartment can you harvest cucumbers?
    2. The best varieties of cucumbers for growing at home
    3. Utensils for growing cucumbers on the windowsill
    4. How to grow healthy seedlings of cucumbers
    5. Secrets and rules of care

    In what apartment will you be able to harvest cucumbers?

    Growing cucumbers in winter requires a number of conditions that can practically be met in any city apartment. It is important to follow certain rules when building a home garden:

    Important to know if you decide to grow seedlings at home! Plant roots on a cold windowsill can reduce growth. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to put a heater under the boxes or pots. As a heater, you can take a board or foam rubber, or any other insulating material. nine0007

    The best varieties of cucumbers for growing at home

    The choice of seeds is one of the most important points when planting cucumbers on the windowsill. The quality of the crop and the abundance of fruiting will largely depend on the correctly selected variety.

    To grow cucumbers at home on the windowsill, it is better to use self-pollinating, early ripening and preferably productive varieties. Some gardeners use bee-pollinated varieties, but these will need to be pollinated artificially with cotton wool. nine0007

    Now various agricultural companies offer a large list of varieties that can be used for growing at home. Here are just a few of them:

    Every gardener has his favorite varieties of seeds that he wants to try indoors. Are varieties that are excellent fruiting in the country suitable for a vegetable garden on a windowsill? Everything is individual, you just need to carefully read the instructions on each specific package.

    Utensils for growing cucumbers on the windowsill

    To grow cucumber seedlings at home, you need to use small seedling cups and special soil for their germination or peat pots. From improvised means, you can take dishes from yogurt, sour cream and the like. nine0007

    For growing already cucumber bushes, special deep containers, which can be bought in stores, are suitable. There is no desire to spend money on factory-made boxes, home-made boxes, plastic buckets and even pots will do.

    The main thing is that each bush should have at least 5 kg of soil. There should be holes at the bottom of each container so that the soil breathes, the roots do not rot, and excess water drains.

    Particular attention should be paid to the composition of the soil. Now the soil can be bought in the store. If there is no opportunity or desire to purchase store soil, we make the soil mixture for seedlings of cucumbers on our own:

    At the bottom of the tank, place a drain of small pebbles or expanded clay up to 5 cm thick, followed by a well-mixed mixture. We fall asleep it in the prepared container, not filling it up by 3-4 cm to the edge.

    Take advice from experienced gardeners. It is desirable to spill the mixture prepared at home with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. It must be watered several times with water so that the water is well absorbed. nine0007

    How to Grow Healthy Cucumber Seedlings

    Healthy seedlings are a good start, providing many prerequisites for a good harvest. First you need to check the seeds for similarity by putting them in a warm place on a damp cloth for 1-2 days.

    If the seeds germinate well, we can hope that the seedlings will be good. You can germinate all the seeds and choose the strongest ones for planting:

    1. Now we will plant the germinated seeds in the soil for seedling germination, in cups, water them and cover them with a film. nine0012
    2. Place the cups in a warm, dark place at 25°C. After 2-3 days shoots will appear.
    3. Then we transfer them to the windowsills in a cooler place - bright and with a temperature of 20 ° C.
    4. When the seedlings of indoor cucumbers grow up to 3-4 leaves, we transplant them into boxes. First, water the earth abundantly in a glass and in a box. We carefully take a glass and crush it with our fingers so that the earth loosens. Carefully transfer the plant from the cup to the box, trying not to damage the roots and leaves. nine0012

    Pay attention! Indoor cucumbers are very delicate plants, so it is good to plant them immediately in boxes and not to transship them.

    Secrets and rules of care

    After the appearance of 4-5 leaves, pinch the top well to allow new shoots to form and form a bush. The next time you can pinch the plants at the level of the next 5-6 leaves - then new shoots form. Here, a measure should be observed so that the plant has enough nutrients and strength to form fruits. nine0007

    Rules for the care of indoor cucumbers:

    One of the main problems faced by exotic lovers who dream of growing cucumbers on the windowsill is the great dislike of cucumbers for drafts and cold.

    Growing problems and how to solve them: